Clinical anatomy of vertebrae in scoliosis: global analysis in four different diseases by multiplanar reconstructive computed tomography

Abstract Background context Few accurate analyses of clinically useful vertebral anatomy have been conducted, and most have focused on thoracic idiopathic scoliosis. Purpose To evaluate the different anatomic characteristics in scoliosis by disease type and level. Study design Observational cohort study. Patient sample Forty-eight patients with scoliosis were included in this study. Outcome measures Subjects underwent computed tomography (CT) of the whole spine. Methods Forty-eight patients with scoliosis were included in this study: 15 adolescent idiopathic, 11 cerebral palsy (CP), 10 muscular dystrophy (MD), and 12 congenital (CG) scoliosis patients with similar demographics. Subjects underwent CT of the whole spine, preoperatively. Eight anatomic parameters were measured in multiplanar reconstructive CT images, and statistical analysis was performed to investigate differences. Results In general, values in the anatomic parameters were similar for the four diseases. Each parameter showed the unique change pattern according to the spinal level regardless of curvature shape, direction, or magnitude. In particular, chord length (CL) in MD and CG scoliosis was lower than in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and CP, and pedicle rib unit length was lower in CG scoliosis than in the other diseases (p